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Pre-assemble Hoses to Air Gap Body — Remove the Old Air Gap Assembly (Optional)

Beginner3 hours

Part of project

How to Clean or Replace a Dishwasher Air Gap · Step 6 of 8

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In this video

Begin by identifying the parts of the new air gap and planning the connection. It's recommended to attach the two drain hoses (one from the dishwasher, one to the garbage disposal) to the new air gap body before installing it. Use hose clamps to secure these connections. If you're unsure of the orientation, refer to a picture taken before disassembly.

Goal: Connect drain hoses to the air gap body

  • Take a picture of the original setup on your phone to reference during reassembly.
  • Connecting the hoses before mounting the air gap is much easier than trying to do it in the tight space under the sink.

Used in this video

  • Dishwasher Air Gap Body (brand: null, Tool Type: Plumbing Tools, Material: Plastic) · optional — Connecting the dishwasher drain hose to the garbage disposal drain, preventing backflow.
  • Hose Clamps (brand: null, Tool Type: Hand Tools, Material: Metal) · optional — Securing the drain hoses to the air gap nozzles.
  • Screwdriver (brand: null, Tool Type: Hand Tools, Head Type: Flathead or Phillips, depending on clamp) · optional — Tightening the hose clamps.
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FAQs

What are the essential tools I need for this project, and are there alternatives for the specific brands listed?

While specific brands are listed, the core tools required are pliers, a standard screwdriver (multi-bit is handy), and a scrub brush for cleaning. You will also need a reliable flashlight, a bucket, and plenty of towels or rags to manage spills. Any good quality versions of these basic tools will suffice.

What crucial safety precautions should I take before I start working on my dishwasher air gap?

The most important safety step is to disconnect power to your dishwasher at the circuit breaker before you begin to prevent electrical shock. Also, wear gloves to protect your hands from potential grime and use the bucket and towels to contain any water that might spill during the process.

Is this project truly beginner-friendly, and how much time should I realistically set aside?

Yes, this project is rated as beginner difficulty, primarily involving basic hand tool use. While the estimated time is 3 hours, a simple cleaning often takes less than an hour. A full replacement might take closer to 1-2 hours depending on how easily the old unit removes and the new one installs.

I've thoroughly cleaned my air gap, but my dishwasher is still not draining properly. What else could be the problem?

If cleaning the air gap didn't fix the issue, the blockage might be further down the drain line or within the dishwasher itself. First, check the drain hose that connects from the air gap to your sink's drain connection for kinks or clogs. If that's clear, you may need to inspect the dishwasher's internal drain filter or pump.

Transcript
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See, this is where I'm going to be making my connections on the air gap. And if you can't remember how to do it, you could have taken a picture on your cell phone or something. Then look back at your picture and see what angle you had that on, but I know it went like that. I'm going to put that clamp on there and I'm going to take this other one. And I'm going to put this one on right here and do the clamp there, fully attaching this to the counter first and then getting up there and trying to clamp this way up high. You know, I'm just going to do it right here. Then I can take this whole set like this, take it up there, up underneath the sink, push it up there, wedge it up there, and then reach above the sink and tighten it down. You can do it by yourself, you don't need any help.

Auto-generated transcript. May contain errors.